Edmonia Highgate to Rev. George Whipple, June 1, 1864
- Title
- Edmonia Highgate to Rev. George Whipple, June 1, 1864
- Date
- 06-01-1864
- Creator
-
Edmonia Highgate
- Description
- Teacher Edmonia Highgate writes from Norfolk, Va. to Rev. George Whipple of the A.M.A. that the past two months have been the most earnest of her existence. She details several moving personal interactions with the freedpeople she is assisting.
- Related Financial Supporters
- American Missionary Association
- Transcript
-
Norfolk June 1st 1864,
Revd Geo. Whipple,
Dear Sir-
The most earnest months of my existence were the two last which have just passed into God's eternity- I have been enabled to get so near to so many of my people who have spent most of manhood's and womanhood's freshness in slavery, in this region of heartbreaks! There are peculiar, crushing emotions which, at first, check my utterance but leave me with deep impelling motive power to “do with my might what so ever my hands find to do”. These untutored children of larger growth who have been made patient by suffering are so full of faith, and have taught me a most important lesson- In my calls which, if there be any difference - form the most interesting of the work. One old lady over seventy years old said, when she was younger her mistress sold her little children twins away, and told her “if she would be good she would go to heaven and then she could play with her babies.” “I mean, Miss, to meet my babies there. Sometimes I feel much cast down when I think of my ten chil'en which de rebs hab got some where. But then I know de Lord means what He says and I takes solid comfort in de evenings for de Lord and my babies seem jam by me.” This old friend does not draw rations. Another case came under my notice of a woman and her three little girls who lived in the hollow a tree several months to elude the vigilence of her rebel pursuers who wished to send them to Richmond. She related many little incidents of her life in the tree amid audible smiles. It is predominating mirthfulness and appreciation of the rediculous that enable these people to be so light hearted in spite of weighty sorrows-
One old woman said she had not been to church for six months, because she had to leave her clothes behind her and flee for her life from her bachelor master who resided at Ferry point- “I used to have plenty of clothes but now I have got only a few old rags and the folks that used to be jealous of me now jeer at me and I cant stand that nohow,” she said. But through the benevolence of some home friends I was enabled to fit her out so comfortably as to see her at class meeting the following Sabbath rejoicing that Jesus was willing to receive her after she had staid away from Him so long- In a visit, a few days ago to the Rope Walk I conversed with an old Christian of one hundred and eight years- He was sent from the “front” within two weeks. “De Union forces had come in to let Uncle Richard feel free and so he might see his chil'en-” He has been a faithful follower of the Lamb for seventy eight years. Uncle Richard Webb is certainly the most polite gentleman I ever met. He would not think of sitting during our interview of over ten minutes. I asked him if he had not been praying for this glorious time for many years. He said, “I have prayed Miss, for the Lord to do his will, for the Lord to have His way-” Oh- how sublime that continued willingness to leave the event with God without one petition that would imply anything but a perfect trust that He would make all right. I asked him to pray that we missionaries might have strength to perform acceptably our work for the suffering, adding that he had prayed so long that God would give especial attention to his requests. “He more than to any other person who prays in faith” promptly replied. I meet with another, who was one hundred and fifteen years old, formerly a slave in Charles City, Va- He had departed somewhat from his “first love” for the Savior, still he “trus in him till he die.” I am convinced that it would be useless to attempt to report in one letter the various thrilling cases with which I am daily permitted to meet. I have lately taken a school of fifty second-grade pupils, taught by Miss Hill. The children seem almost inconsolable at the loss of so amiable a teacher who left a home of affluence and devoted herself so selfsacrificingly to help in the great work of elevating the “nation's freedmen.” I have also just commenced teaching from four till six at the Rope walk and already feel blessed in the effort. I have my reward in advance in all phases of this excellent work- My evening class of men who are studying geography, arithmetic &c afford me decided recreation. Oh how inspiring the thought that these dear souls are “forever free”
Truly yours,
E. G. Highgate.
Part of Edmonia Highgate to Rev. George Whipple, June 1, 1864